Not to take away from their achievement but these types of record are kinda meaningless. Pretty much any new car can achieve that if the drivers are motivated enough. This record speaks more to the driver's commitment and perseverance than the car itself so kudos to them on that point.It would mean something and prove a point IF pumping gas takes hours but it isn't.

SuperNinjaToad:Not to take away from their achievement but these types of record are kinda meaningless. Pretty much any new car can achieve that if the drivers are motivated enough. This record speaks more to the driver's commitment and perseverance than the car itself so kudos to them on that point.It would mean something and prove a point IF pumping gas takes hours but it isn't.

I think the point being made is that the car is entirely electric, so unless they swapped out battery packs along the way, it takes arguments along the lines of "electric cars only useful in cities and suburbs and are useless for long trips during short periods of time" off the table.

We were somewhere around barstow on the edge of the desert when the Red Bull began to take hold. I remember saying something like "I feel a bit lightheaded; maybe you should drive..." And suddenly there was a terrible roar all around us and the sky was full of what looked like huge bats, all swooping and screeching and stealing bits of electricity from us. Each creature chose a precise moment, swooped in to the vehicle and snatch a precious volt from out batteries. I screamed "Drive faster!" Then I remembered that I was driving. "No!" yelled my attorney. "You'll deplete us for sure. These basterd will have us right where they want us!"

this guy drove his 1947 caddy across the country without stopping in 1952. he fueled up while still moving and had mini spare tires to lower down so he could also lift the car while moving and replace the flat tire.

capn' fun:I think the point being made is that the car is entirely electric, so unless they swapped out battery packs along the way, it takes arguments along the lines of "electric cars only useful in cities and suburbs and are useless for long trips during short periods of time" off the table.

And replaces it with "electric cars can only do long trips in short periods of time if you fit your schedule to theirs, taking no breaks except when you need to recharge."

The worst thing about Teslas, however, is that their owners and supporters are without exception complete arseholes.

Pretty darn impressive. One, it shows the increasing penetration of charging stations to allow for such travel (there are some pretty remote sections depending on the route taken). That doesn't mean it is the most flexible option, but it is a sign that range anxiety may be on the decline. Two, it is a good advertisement for Tesla that they did this during a more difficult weather period and the car didn't suffer any setbacks.

No one is saying that the electric car is any threat to speed records held by internal combustion engines. That being said, it is a respectable time. As technology advances perhaps times will drop. Certainly, the Tesla did it for cheaper as a $100 is only a couple tanks worth of gas for most vehicles.

capn' fun:I think the point being made is that the car is entirely electric, so unless they swapped out battery packs along the way, it takes arguments along the lines of "electric cars only useful in cities and suburbs and are useless for long trips during short periods of time" off the table.

Exactly. Doing it in 50 hours is doing it faster than 99.9% of the population would want to do it... regardless of what the actual record set by some meth-fueled outlaw is. Ergo, cross "b-b-but... limited range" off the list of EV objections (and there isn't much else left on the list at this point).

Temporarily Qualmless:capn' fun:I think the point being made is that the car is entirely electric, so unless they swapped out battery packs along the way, it takes arguments along the lines of "electric cars only useful in cities and suburbs and are useless for long trips during short periods of time" off the table.

Exactly. Doing it in 50 hours is doing it faster than 99.9% of the population would want to do it... regardless of what the actual record set by some meth-fueled outlaw is. Ergo, cross "b-b-but... limited range" off the list of EV objections (and there isn't much else left on the list at this point).

Um.... this same guy, Alex Roy, that just drove the Model 3 across the country in 50 hours has also unequivocally destroyed the 35-hour record Brock Yates & Co. set... he did it in 32, then 31 hours in the mid-2000s. Then some dude unequivocally destroyed Roy's record in 2013 with a 28-hour run.

this guy drove his 1947 caddy across the country without stopping in 1952. he fueled up while still moving and had mini spare tires to lower down so he could also lift the car while moving and replace the flat tire.

orbister:capn' fun: I think the point being made is that the car is entirely electric, so unless they swapped out battery packs along the way, it takes arguments along the lines of "electric cars only useful in cities and suburbs and are useless for long trips during short periods of time" off the table.

And replaces it with "electric cars can only do long trips in short periods of time if you fit your schedule to theirs, taking no breaks except when you need to recharge."

The worst thing about Teslas, however, is that their owners and supporters are without exception complete arseholes.

orbister:capn' fun: I think the point being made is that the car is entirely electric, so unless they swapped out battery packs along the way, it takes arguments along the lines of "electric cars only useful in cities and suburbs and are useless for long trips during short periods of time" off the table.

And replaces it with "electric cars can only do long trips in short periods of time if you fit your schedule to theirs, taking no breaks except when you need to recharge."

The worst thing about Teslas, however, is that their owners and supporters are without exception complete arseholes.

So... what's the difference between that and doing a cannonball run in a gas vehicle with no breaks except to eat and refuel? I've driven from NYC and Philadelphia to LA and San Diego several times, and the best time I ever made was about 40 hours. And none of the cars were nearly as sweet as a Tesla.

As for the drivers, I know two, and they're both actually pretty cool; the first bought one because of the near perfect rating from Consumer Reports, and the other bought his because he loves the body style.

capn' fun:I think the point being made is that the car is entirely electric, so unless they swapped out battery packs along the way, it takes arguments along the lines of "electric cars only useful in cities and suburbs and are useless for long trips during short periods of time" off the table.

Yeah, that's pretty much it. The range argument is now GONE. It's utterly obliterated. There is no more range argument about electric cars. You can drive one anywhere in the country. It's a solved problem.

/I don't want a Model 3, though.//How hard would it have been to put a screen in front of the driver, guys? Small LCD panels are cheap.///Can't afford a Model S, unfortunately.

DarkVader:capn' fun: I think the point being made is that the car is entirely electric, so unless they swapped out battery packs along the way, it takes arguments along the lines of "electric cars only useful in cities and suburbs and are useless for long trips during short periods of time" off the table.

Yeah, that's pretty much it. The range argument is now GONE. It's utterly obliterated. There is no more range argument about electric cars. You can drive one anywhere in the country. It's a solved problem.

/I don't want a Model 3, though.//How hard would it have been to put a screen in front of the driver, guys? Small LCD panels are cheap.///Can't afford a Model S, unfortunately.

Well not everywhere in the country... I doubt there are many charging station in Montana or North Dakota so the lack of range argument is pretty much obliterated for most people in the country.

DarkVader:Yeah, that's pretty much it. The range argument is now GONE. It's utterly obliterated. There is no more range argument about electric cars. You can drive one anywhere in the country. It's a solved problem.

You're thinking too much like a big city-er with every convenience... I wouldn't say the range problem is GONE. Sure, they didn't have a problem... along major interstate highways. I suppose people in large cities and not completely out in the boonies are who's going to own one, though. And it's still becoming less and less of a problem to find a charging point.

DarkVader:capn' fun: I think the point being made is that the car is entirely electric, so unless they swapped out battery packs along the way, it takes arguments along the lines of "electric cars only useful in cities and suburbs and are useless for long trips during short periods of time" off the table.

Yeah, that's pretty much it. The range argument is now GONE. It's utterly obliterated. There is no more range argument about electric cars. You can drive one anywhere in the country. It's a solved problem.

/I don't want a Model 3, though.//How hard would it have been to put a screen in front of the driver, guys? Small LCD panels are cheap.///Can't afford a Model S, unfortunately.

It also tends to counter the argument about electrics sucking in cold weather as well, when you consider how cold it has been in most o the country.

DarkVader:capn' fun: I think the point being made is that the car is entirely electric, so unless they swapped out battery packs along the way, it takes arguments along the lines of "electric cars only useful in cities and suburbs and are useless for long trips during short periods of time" off the table.

Yeah, that's pretty much it. The range argument is now GONE. It's utterly obliterated. There is no more range argument about electric cars. You can drive one anywhere in the country. It's a solved problem.

/I don't want a Model 3, though.//How hard would it have been to put a screen in front of the driver, guys? Small LCD panels are cheap.///Can't afford a Model S, unfortunately.

I just bought a new car about a year ago, and generally keep them for 8-10 years. My plan is to keep this one in great shape for 6-7, pass it along to my son as his first car, and then buy a Model 3, or even an S, depending on what's available then and whether the cost curve has been bent down at all.

One of my friends who owns a Tesla has let me drive his a few times and it is sweeeeeeeeeetttttttt. Handling is better than an Audi or a BMW-practically glued to the road. The ergonomics of the interior design are amazing, and with the electric motor the torque is incredible-takes off like a rocket. And it's a gorgeous color, too-red in bright sunlight, burgundy or even a deep purple at night.

max_pooper:DarkVader: capn' fun: I think the point being made is that the car is entirely electric, so unless they swapped out battery packs along the way, it takes arguments along the lines of "electric cars only useful in cities and suburbs and are useless for long trips during short periods of time" off the table.

Yeah, that's pretty much it. The range argument is now GONE. It's utterly obliterated. There is no more range argument about electric cars. You can drive one anywhere in the country. It's a solved problem.

/I don't want a Model 3, though.//How hard would it have been to put a screen in front of the driver, guys? Small LCD panels are cheap.///Can't afford a Model S, unfortunately.

Well not everywhere in the country... I doubt there are many charging station in Montana or North Dakota so the lack of range argument is pretty much obliterated for most people in the country.

Since you can always plug into to a regular outlet and trickle charge, you might have an easier time finding a power outlet than a gas station in some of the more remote locations.

It also tends to counter the argument about electrics sucking in cold weather as well, when you consider how cold it has been in most o the country.

Actually it does the opposite of that.

They did not use the heater:

Roy tweeted throughout the trip, often about the bitterly cold weather throughout much of the trip. Naturally, keeping the heater on would have a great effect on the range of the Model 3, and therefore their trip time.

TFA also includes this:

I can confirm that extreme cold negatively affects the #Tesla #Model3.

Also, ME.- Alex Roy (@AlexRoy144) December 29, 2017

Regular non-record-seeking people won't want to drive without a heater in winter, and apparently the really low temperatures *did* affect the car in some fashion.

max_pooper:DarkVader: capn' fun: I think the point being made is that the car is entirely electric, so unless they swapped out battery packs along the way, it takes arguments along the lines of "electric cars only useful in cities and suburbs and are useless for long trips during short periods of time" off the table.

Yeah, that's pretty much it. The range argument is now GONE. It's utterly obliterated. There is no more range argument about electric cars. You can drive one anywhere in the country. It's a solved problem.

/I don't want a Model 3, though.//How hard would it have been to put a screen in front of the driver, guys? Small LCD panels are cheap.///Can't afford a Model S, unfortunately.

Well not everywhere in the country... I doubt there are many charging station in Montana or North Dakota so the lack of range argument is pretty much obliterated for most people in the country.

Pop quiz:

What percentage of the U.S. population lives in Montana?

A: 5 percentB: 3 percentC. 1 percentD. .33 percent

What percentage of the U.S. population lives in the Los Angeles Metro Area?

max_pooper:DarkVader: capn' fun: I think the point being made is that the car is entirely electric, so unless they swapped out battery packs along the way, it takes arguments along the lines of "electric cars only useful in cities and suburbs and are useless for long trips during short periods of time" off the table.

Yeah, that's pretty much it. The range argument is now GONE. It's utterly obliterated. There is no more range argument about electric cars. You can drive one anywhere in the country. It's a solved problem.

/I don't want a Model 3, though.//How hard would it have been to put a screen in front of the driver, guys? Small LCD panels are cheap.///Can't afford a Model S, unfortunately.

Well not everywhere in the country... I doubt there are many charging station in Montana or North Dakota so the lack of range argument is pretty much obliterated for most people in the country.

Enough in Montana to get you across the State. None yet in ND which is probably going to be the last of the Lower 48 to get them.

Um.... this same guy, Alex Roy, that just drove the Model 3 across the country in 50 hours has also unequivocally destroyed the 35-hour record Brock Yates & Co. set... he did it in 32, then 31 hours in the mid-2000s. Then some dude unequivocally destroyed Roy's record in 2013 with a 28-hour run.

Your information is old.

Yes. Because i absolutely 100% said that Yates and Gurney held the record. Totally.

// I tried finding a map of states by overall population percentage (you would think that's something that would be easy to find), but I've given up after about 5 minutes of googling (I keep getting race/religious specific maps).

SuperNinjaToad: Not to take away from their achievement but these types of record are kinda meaningless. Pretty much any new car can achieve that if the drivers are motivated enough. This record speaks more to the driver's commitment and perseverance than the car itself so kudos to them on that point.It would mean something and prove a point IF pumping gas takes hours but it isn't.

I think the point being made is that the car is entirely electric, so unless they swapped out battery packs along the way, it takes arguments along the lines of "electric cars only useful in cities and suburbs and are useless for long trips during short periods of time" off the table.

So it is pretty much like NFL or MLB "next gen" statsAaron Judge hit a home run. It was the first to have an exit velocity of 109.3 MPH and exit angle for 27.356 degrees.

cfreak:The current record for a conventional vehicle involved adding additional fuel tanks and driving as fast as 158 mph (https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/n​ation/2013/11/01/drive-record-new-york​-la/3343331/ ) I don't see how it's any more meaningful.

50 hours is very close to what a realistic driver would expect with realistic stops. It's an average of about 55mph.

As I mentioned above, the record for a Ford Pinto is 47.5 hours. Only a couple of hours faster than the Tesla.

A 1972 Ford Pinto.

You know, one of the cars that gets mentioned in "worst US cars" lists.

cirby:cfreak: The current record for a conventional vehicle involved adding additional fuel tanks and driving as fast as 158 mph (https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/n​ation/2013/11/01/drive-record-new-york​-la/3343331/ ) I don't see how it's any more meaningful.

50 hours is very close to what a realistic driver would expect with realistic stops. It's an average of about 55mph.

As I mentioned above, the record for a Ford Pinto is 47.5 hours. Only a couple of hours faster than the Tesla.

A 1972 Ford Pinto.

You know, one of the cars that gets mentioned in "worst US cars" lists.

A 1972 Ford Pinto got 24 miles per gallon, highway. New.

Distance between LA and New York is 2,789 miles.

Gas Buddy says that the trip would cost about $275 in fuel.

These guys spent roughly $100 charging on the trip.

The Tesla is way nicer than a Pinto, but also more way more expensive, I would guess.